A Green Promise

Context

The Union Cabinet approved a ?19,744 crore National Green Hydrogen mission that aims to make India a ‘global hub’ for using, producing and exporting green hydrogen.

What is green hydrogen?

• Produced through electrolysis- Green hydrogen is when hydrogen is produced via electrolysis, the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen with electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as solar or wind.
• Environmental Friendly-This is the most environmentally sustainable way of producing hydrogen.
• Usage- Hydrogen is a key industrial fuel that has a variety of applications including the production of ammonia (a key fertilizer), steel, refineries and electricity.

What is the National Green Hydrogen Mission?

• Objective- The intent of the mission is to incentivize the commercial production of green hydrogen and make India a net exporter of the fuel.
• Target- The mission has laid out a target to develop green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum.
• Outcome- This will entail the decarbonisation of the industrial, mobility and energy sectors; reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels and feedstock; developing indigenous manufacturing capabilities; creating employment opportunities; and developing new technologies such as efficient fuel cells.